Easy Used Truck Upgrades

Rather Than Selling This '05 F-150, Auto Anything Helped Us Customize it

It's an important decision that will affect your finances for years to come—to keep your used truck or jump into high-dollar new-truck payments. For this truck owner, the decision was an easy one as his '05 F-150 had served him well for more than 105,000 miles. It had been paid off for several years and other than routine maintenance, the 5.4L-powered Ford had never needed any costly repairs. The decision to invest back into the truck was made easier by checking out the low prices and fast shipping provided by AutoAnything. With AutoAnything, tailoring your truck's comfort, performance, or carrying ability to your needs can be addressed with one-stop shopping. To prove that point, we ordered a simple ReadyLift leveling kit, Westin Sportsman grille guard, and BAKFlip G2 tonneau cover. All three of these modifications will add form and function to the F-150. To truly set off the F-150, we ordered 33-inch-tall Toyo Open Country A/T II tires and mounted them to 20-inch Rocket Racing Booster 6 wheels. Installation was quick, and this whole arrangement (except the wheels and tires) could be shipped right to your door from AutoAnything, and installed in your driveway with handtools. This used truck was looking good in just five short hours and now has more capability than it did the first 100,000 miles.

1. This is what we started with, an '05 F-150 with 105,000 miles on the odometer and a completely stock appearance (with the exception of the steps and bedrails).

1. This is what we started with, an '05 F-150 with 105,000 miles on the odometer and a com

2. We began the day with the BAKFlip G2 tonneau cover. AutoAnything offers several different tonneau cover styles, but we chose the BAKflip G2 for ease of installation, bed accessibility, and cargo protection. The first step was to lay the side rails down over the bedrails and use the three included aluminum mounting brackets to secure the tonneau's rails to the bedrails.

2. We began the day with the BAKFlip G2 tonneau cover. AutoAnything offers several differe

3. With an extra set of hands, the BAKflip tonneau was placed onto the side rails and jockeyed into position along the bulkhead and tailgate. The tonneau has locking tabs that click into the side rail's channel and can only be released by pulling the release cable on each panel.

3. With an extra set of hands, the BAKflip tonneau was placed onto the side rails and jock

4. Because water will collect towards the front of the tonneau (nearest the bulkhead), BAKflip included clear drain tubes to reroute water through the bed and keep your valuables dry. A hole needed to be drilled in the bedliner and was quickly handled by a unibit.

4. Because water will collect towards the front of the tonneau (nearest the bulkhead), BAK

5. The drain tubes were then routed through the hole and secured with the included hose clamps.

5. The drain tubes were then routed through the hole and secured with the included hose cl

6. Adding convenience to the overall package, BAKflip even included these prop rods that help keep the tonneau upright and locked when the panels are folded up.

6. Adding convenience to the overall package, BAKflip even included these prop rods that h

7. After a few fitment adjustments, the BAKflip G2 tonneau cover was locked into position and ready to protect our cargo and valuables. The tonneau isn't 100 percent watertight, but it did do a good job of keeping most things dry inside the bed. The tonneau cover cannot be accessed without first opening the tailgate, which means if your tailgate locks, all of the items in your bed will be protected.

7. After a few fitment adjustments, the BAKflip G2 tonneau cover was locked into position

8. The real advantage to the tonneau's design is its ability to fold up and out of the way for instant bed access. The three panels can be folded up individually to suit whatever the size of the cargo requires and all three can be folded up together and propped up against the back of the cab with the included prop rods.

8. The real advantage to the tonneau's design is its ability to fold up and out of the way

9. Moving to the ReadyLift leveling kit installation, we began by removing the wheels and tires and using an Ingersoll Rand impact to loosen the upper control arm. The lower nut for the sway bar endlink was also removed at this time to allow the lower control arm more droop.

9. Moving to the ReadyLift leveling kit installation, we began by removing the wheels and

10. To dislodge the upper ball joint from the spindle, a 3-pound mini sledge was used to change its attitude.

10. To dislodge the upper ball joint from the spindle, a 3-pound mini sledge was used to c

11. The lower strut mounting bolt is an extra-large piece with the bolt head being 27mm and the nut being 13/16-inch. With the lower bolt removed, the three 15mm upper nuts for the strut were also loosened and removed.

11. The lower strut mounting bolt is an extra-large piece with the bolt head being 27mm an

12. At this point, the entire strut and coil assembly could be removed as one piece.

13. Installing the ReadyLift spacer was easy and required no strut preloading, cutting, or modification of the factory parts.

13. Installing the ReadyLift spacer was easy and required no strut preloading, cutting, or

14. Following in reverse sequence, the front suspension was reassembled just as quickly as it came apart.

14. Following in reverse sequence, the front suspension was reassembled just as quickly as

15. Handling the rear suspension was no more involved than the front. The lower shock bolts were removed to allow the axle to hang as low as possible. The ReadyLift blocks were based on OEM designs and had factory-style bumpstop landings and cast-in centering pins.

15. Handling the rear suspension was no more involved than the front. The lower shock bolt

16. After supporting the frame independently from the axle, the original U-bolts were removed and the ReadyLift blocks and longer, E-coated U-bolts swapped on.

16. After supporting the frame independently from the axle, the original U-bolts were remo

17. Tire and wheel sizes were kept moderate with 20x9-inch Rocket Racing Booster 6 wheels encased in 275/60R20 Toyo Open Country A/T II tires. The five-spoke design of the Booster 6 wheels is unique when you consider the F-150's six-lug bolt fitment. The Toyo A/T II tires should last 50,000 miles with proper care and maintenance.

19. Zinc-coated nut plates slipped right into the open frame horns to make installation a no-drill affair.

19. Zinc-coated nut plates slipped right into the open frame horns to make installation a

20. The mounting plates were bolted to the previous inserts, effectively sandwiching the Ford's frame for a solid footing.

20. The mounting plates were bolted to the previous inserts, effectively sandwiching the F

21. We then positioned the Westin Sportsman on the truck and secured the grille guard to the mounting brackets.

21. We then positioned the Westin Sportsman on the truck and secured the grille guard to t

22. These upper brackets were mounted from the bumper to the guard and prevent the grille guard from moving around. We made sure to add the included foam tape to the mount to prevent any scratching of the front bumper.

22. These upper brackets were mounted from the bumper to the guard and prevent the grille

23. From the front, you can see how much coverage the Westin Sportsman grille guard supplied to deflect brush, jaywalkers, and zombies.

23. From the front, you can see how much coverage the Westin Sportsman grille guard suppli

After just five hours of TLC, the F-150 was ready to tackle another 100,000 miles—but this time in style.

After just five hours of TLC, the F-150 was ready to tackle another 100,000 miles—but this